QO

Creating a newspaper long-distance since 1994.

February 22, 2006

Volume 12, Issue 9

Sport Centre Sprinting for the Finish Line
Details of the Northern Sport Centre unveiled

CAMERON ORR
STAFF WRITER

On Friday February 10 at the Civic
Centre in downtown Prince George,
UNEC and the City of Prince George
unveiled drawings and plans for the

upcoming Northern Sports Centte-

(NSC). The NSC is becoming a more
physical reality than the campus signs
promising the “future site” A blurb
during the powerpoint presentation in
* the Civic Centre banquet hall promises
that the “Centre will contribute to the
growth and diversification of Prince
George and the surrounding region.’

Cliff Dezell, Chair of Northern
Sport Centre Ltd, was lead speaker at
the event which showcased. some art-
istic renderings of the building as well
as the technical details. Despite some
technical difficulties in projecting some
of the images, the vision of the building
was clear,

The building will be much more in-
clusive than a simple sport centre with
basketball courts and a track, which has
an.interesting design that has it elevated
and running the circumference of the
building, Among its features are a three
court gymnasium, two indoor fields,
weight rooms and conference rooms. It
will be a place not only for UNBC stu-
dents to train and exercise, but will be a
hub for both national and international
athletes to train, as well as coach train-
ing. It will be an educational centre for
health and wellness providing research
and training for sports medicine and
other medical related fields. Among the

project visions, it will “promote educa-
tion, health, sport, and wellness” which
will put athletic excellence on Prince
George's credits.

“The NSC] will be a true sports
facility,’ says Cliff Dezell, speaking in
front of-a crowd which included cur-
rent UNBC president Charles Jago and
Mayor Colin Kinsley. “This is not only
a university facility. It is all of ours,’ he
continues.

It- is indeed a Sports. Centre for
everyone. The two shareholders in the

‘project are the University and the City

of Prince George, and the project has
consulted. with stakeholders such as
PacificSport Northern BC and Initia-
tives Prince George among others.
Make no mistake, the Centre, while
occupying campus space, is here for all
to enjoy: The centre will be owned by
UNBC and run by the Northern Sport
Centre board.

Dezell proudly boasted during the
assembly that the NSC “is the most im-
portant sport facility built in a decade.’

The facility will be 125,000 sq. ft:

-and will cost 30.5-millioris dollars, 20.5

of which has been provided by-the gov-
ernment. UNBC and Prince George
will split the remaining tab providing
5 million each. It will be located at the
entrance to the UNBC campus, just off
of University Way.

The NSC is expected to be open in
the Fall of 2007, and Dezell added that
they are“close to being on schedule’.

Further information on the NSC can
be found online at www.unbe.ca/nsc.

Sas
‘CAMERON ORR

Cliff Dezell, Chair of Northern Sport Centre Ltd reveals the latest news about the construction of the Northern Sport
Centre. The facility is expected to open in the Fall of 2007.

New UNBC/CNC Campus Opening i in 1 Quesnel

REBECCA CARMICHAEL
COPY EDITOR

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NORTH CARIBOO COMMUNITY CAMPUS
The new UNBC/CNC campus in Quesnel just opened on January 26.

Students attending UNBC’s South-
Central regional campus have some-

thing to be happy about. A brand new
campus to be shared between UNBC
and CNC was unveiled January 26,
2006. It will almost double the space
available in the previous campus, now
with capacity for more than 400 stu-
dents.

The new campus is called the
North Cariboo Community Campus
(NCCC). The 4750-square meter
building is designed on similar princi-
ples as UNBC’s main campus in that it
features extensive use of natural wood
and glass surrounding a large central
atrium. Lauren Construction of Wil-
liam’s Lake was awarded the contract
for construction of the NCCC. Much
of the wood used was locally grown

and donated by local companies such
as C&C Wood Products, Weldwood,
West Fraser, Tolko, Dunkley Lumber

‘and Canfor. The building is also highly
energy efficient and environmentally
friendly. The building has expanded

classroom and laboratory space, as well

-as a counselling centre, administrative
‘space, community space, student ser-

vices and a library overlooking the city
and the Quesnel River.

The Government of British Co-
lumbia funded 11.6 million dollars of
the 12 million dollar cost of the new
campus. This is part of a 800 million
dollar plan over the next three years to
enhance and replace campuses all over

BC.

Despite the official opening occut-
~ ring on January 26, students have been
attending the new campus since the
beginning of the semester. UNBC and
CNC offer a variety of opportunities
for ‘students living in the South-Cen-
tral region. UNBC already offers a va-
riety of programs for Quesnel students,
including Bachelor of Social Work,
“Master of Education, Bachelor of Arts
in First Nations Studies and Bachelor
of Science in Nursing in conjunction
with CNC. Students can also take a va-
riety of general arts and science courses
in preparation for university transfer.
Hopefully, the new larger campus will
increase academic opportunities for
students in this region.

‘Supplement |

A four page insert devoted
to the outcry regarding the
Muhammed comics and the
freedom of speech debate.

Sune rent ‘pages a0